Category:#MeetTheMaker

November 8
Meet The Maker Sessions – Jon Baxter of Airlie Bank Wines

Okidoke folks, for our final Meet The Maker Sessions for 2018, it is with great pleasure that the producer be one that has lined the shelves and fridges ever since we opened back in 2014 – Airlie Bank Wines from the Yarra Valley hosted by one of the WINE STORE | WINE BARS favourite wine person in Jon Baxter.

Comprising of five wines; Savvy B, Skinsy Pinot Gris, Cuvée Sparkling NV, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc, the Airlie Bank wines are, as far as this wine professional thinks, are possibly some of Australia’s best value wines in terms of quality and certainly price. These wines not only consistently deliver varietal expression but also through wine maker Tim Shand’s deft touch present wines that year after year throw slightly cheeky and different dynamic flavours in the glass that demands another bottle to be opened. Just because!!!

So make sure you swing by this Saturday November 10th from 3-6ish and have a sip and a chat with Jon where we are sure that you will like the wines as much as we do.

October 25
Meet The Maker Sessions – Dom Valentine of Valentine Wines

With another Saturday comes another Meet The Maker Sessions with this Saturday to be hosted by Dom Valentine of Valentine Wines.

Dom’s wine journey started in 2010 while working in Rudesheim and Geisenheim in Germany’s Rheingau region. In that year, Dom worked for both both Weingut Josef Leitz and Weingut Georg Breuer – two of the region’s most respected producers. Each of those experiences was  inspiration to return to Australia and pursue his Valere project whereby he sourced grapes each year from a different vineyard in Victoria to explore the lessons learned in Germany.

Fast forward some years and Dom has added a deliciously perfumed Heathcote Grenache and a wildly ace Chardonnay from Victoria’s highest altitude vineyard in Whitlands in the NE of Victoria. Both wines add to Dom’s unmistakable light touch when it comes to producing wines that have true terroir expressions.

So as Molly would say, do yourself a favour and swing on by the WINE STORE | WINE BAR this Saturday, October 27th from 3-6ish and have a gander of three of our fave wines for 2018.

October 17
Meet The Maker Sessions – Dave Mack of ArFion Wines

Yet another one of the WINE STORE | WINE BARS best mates is taking over the pouring duties this Saturday October 20th from 3-6ish for another Meet The Maker Sessions. Ladies and Gentleman, we give you Dave Mackintosh of ArFion Wines.

Dave’s philosophy is simple; to try and extend the limitations of style, be considerate to the grapes and land, and to be a strong part of the local wine community. Seems simple and obvious to us, and as we say around here, “It’s not Rocket Surgery after all”.

Not necessarily conforming to an existing style, Dave aims to create wines that have their own thumbprint and can evolve as the seasons do.  They are the result of the interpretation of many connections between vintage, style and site.

So make sure you swing on by this Saturday for a wee sip of Dave’s current vintage wines where we have little doubt that you’ll like them as much as we do.

October 9
Meet The Maker Sessions – Michael Dhillon of Bindi Wines

The WINE STORE | WINE BAR is turning 4 on October 15th, so to mark this milestone of of the stores fave winemakers, and one of my best mates, Michael Dhillon of Bindi Wines in for a tasting. As many of you will know, Bindi Wines, and Michael who is effectively Bindi, have a very special place in my heart. And it is because of this Michael will be in the WINE STORE | WINE BAR on Saturday, October 13th from 1-4ish where he will pour his new release wines at the tasting bench.

Bindi’, 50 kilometres north-west of Melbourne in the Macedon Ranges, is the family property of the Dhillon family. Originally purchased in the 1950s as part of the larger grazing farm ‘Bundaleer’, ‘Bindi’ is a 170 hectare farm of which 7 hectares are planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Fifteen hectares are dedicated to managed plantation eucalypts for high grade furniture timber whilst the remainder of the land is maintained as remnant bush land and important indigenous grasslands.

The Bindi vineyard is the fundamental focus of the Dhillon family endeavors. The vineyard and winemaking philosophy is to seek balance and purity in the expression of the various individual vineyard sites and this philosophy is applied to farming and conservation at ‘Bindi’; the preservation of the natural harmony.

This tasting is going to be popular so the earlier the better we would advise. On tasting will be Bindi’s new releases which include all of the estate wines – Block 5, Original Vineyard and Dixon Pinot Noirs; Quartz and Kostas Rind Chardonnays and the Pyrette Shiraz from Heathcote. And what better way to celebrate our 4th anniversary then to have Michael pouring his wines. And there may also be a sausage sizzle out the back weather permitting.

September 19
Meet The Maker Sessions – Adam Foster of Syrahmi Wines

The Meet The Maker Sessions keep rolling on this Saturday, September 22nd with another ace friend to the WINE STORE | WINE BAR in Adam Foster of Syrahmi Wines taking over the tasting duties from 3-6ish where he will tell the great story of his even greater wines.

Adam has always had an interest in food and wine. Whilst spending many of his years completing a chef’s apprenticeship and working in some of Victoria and London’s best kitchens he also maintained an interest in Front of House activities – particularly the cellars and wine lists.

In 2002 Adam decided to give up ‘chefing’ to immerse himself in the winemaking process. Since then his experience in the industry has been quite diverse and somewhat unconventional.

Adams unadulterated passion for wine came from the early days working shifts at Walters Wine Bar. He concentrated his efforts particularly on French and Australian Rhone styles. He had the privilege of working with some of what he considers to be the most outstanding wineries in Australia and France such as Torbreck, Chapoutier, Mitchelton, Heathcote Winery, Domaine Ogier & Jasper Hill.

So make sure you don’t miss out on meeting this absolute legend of a person and grab a few sips and potentially liberate a bottle or two of his great wines to take home, or even have at the bar.

 

September 13
Meet The Maker Sessions – Mario Marson of Vinea Marson

This Saturday we go (almost) Full Italian with another great friend of the WINE STORE | WINE BAR in Mario Marson of Vinea Marson. 

Vinea Marson is a small, family owned and operated winery in the heart of Heathcote in Central Victoria.

Mario’s inspiration stems from his Italian heritage – where his grandfather made Friulano, Cabernet and Merlot and his great-grandfather was chief winemaker for the local padrone. Mario’s father, Giuseppe, planted rows of vines in their Melbourne backyard to bring Italian wine to the dinner table each night. Making wine and serving it with plentiful Italian food was a Marson way of life.

Since 2000 Mario has used his deft hands to create some of Australia’s best examples of Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and Prosecco, and it will once again be our pleasure to have Mario in the store this Saturday, September 15th from 3-6ish for him to show you all his wonderful wines.

September 5
Meet The Maker Wine Sessions – Sierra Reed of Reed Wines

If you happen to be peeping out your window today you will swear that Spring is REALLY here. Though being Melbourne, this picture can quickly change. One thing that does not change however is the gorgeous fresh vitality That Reed Wines express. And what a coincidence, Sierra Reed will be the latest friend of the WINE STORE | WINE BAR to take part in our “Meet The Maker Wine Sessions” this coming Saturday, September 8th from 3-6ish.

Reed Wines are single vineyard expressions made by Sierra Reed in Victoria.

Always an inquisitive and enthusiastic drinker, Sierra’s journey in wine began in New Zealand whilst filming with the Family of Twelve. Interviewing those leading families of New Zealand wine inspired her to change her life and begin the journey from drinker to maker.

A complete immersion in winemaking followed with a rapid succession of vintages as a global nomad in Paso Robles (Hearst Ranch Winery), the Yarra Valley (Domain Chandon), the Napa Valley (Piña), Central Otago (Rippon), Beaujolais, France (Domaine du Vissoux), the Grampians (Mount Langi Ghiran), Barolo, Italy (E. Pira & Figli – Chiara Boschis) Geelong (Lethbridge Wines), and Rheingau, Germany (Robert Weil).

As well as 4 vintages under her own label Reed Wines of which she makes a Grenache, Shiraz, Nebbiolo and Riesling. Her main focus is Victoria as a region, but the Grenache is sourced from the Barossa from a very old vineyard and it’s a perfect fit for Reed Wines.

 

August 29
Meet The Maker Wine Sessions – Brian Conway of Izway and Trapeze Wines

Winter has well and truly set in and this Saturdays Meet The Maker Wine Session has more than enough juicy goodness from the Barossa Valley for you to get your lips around. People, I give you Brian Conway of Izway Wines and Trapeze Wines.

Izway wines was conceived on a handshake between two Aussie wine makers in a chateau in Beaujolais. Brian Conway and Craig Isbel met during vintage at Chateau de Bluizard in 2002 and after many nights drinking pastis they decided to start their own winery in the Barossa Valley.

Brian’s love of wine began when his old man shared a bottle of Dom with him one New Years Eve. He is certainly glad he ditched the party to stay home and drink something that would render him speechless and inspire him to pursue a career in the wine industry.

So make sure you make some time this Saturday, September 1st from 3-6ish, and come in and have a wee sip from one of the WINE STORE | WINE BARS favourite wine makers.

And don’t forget that it is Fathers Day the following day. We’re sure your Dad would love one of Brian’s ace wines this Sunday.

August 15
Meet the Maker Wine Sessions – Alex Byrne of Byrne Wines and Liquid Rock n’ Roll

It’s that time of the year again where all of the wine makers are back from Bali getting their hair braided and getting back to work. That means another season of our “Meet the Maker Wine Sessions”. And what better producer to kick the new season off than Alex Byrne (one of the Wine Stores best mates too-boot) of Byrne Wines and Liquid Rock n’ Roll.

Alex studied Wine Science at Deakin and Charles Sturt Universities while continuing to work in retail wine sales as well as working vintages in Margaret River and the Northern Rhone Valley while studying.

After his studies were done and dusted, Alex worked in Burgundy before returning to Australia to work at Lethbridge in Geelong so he could get ready to do his own thing and begin making wine under his own label – Byrne Wines

In 2013 he and his friend Kim Farrell formed Liquid Rock n Roll wines in order to experiment with different styles of wine.

So make sure you swing on by the WINE STORE | WINE BAR this Saturday from 3-6ish and have a wee sip of some of the stores fave wines.